Athletic Clothing With Reinforced Panels

ABSTRACT

A garment for use in athletic or exercise activities. The garment is generally a pair of shorts or alternatively a pant for use during activities involving high-rep lifting or exercise activities. The garment includes reinforced fabric panels in areas where excessive wear may occur. The garment has a waistband that may include a clasp or tie, or may be made of elastic material. Reinforced panels are disposed in the thigh areas or the shorts. A reinforced fabric back panel is also disposed adjacent the waistband along a backside of the garment. The reinforced fabric panels are made of a fabric resistant to abrasion, such as an ultra suede, nylon rip-stop, or duck canvas type material. The balance of the material for the garment is generally a lightweight stretch material, such as a 4-way stretch material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to clothing for use in exercise or athletic endeavors and more particularly to athletic clothing with reinforced panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

CrossFit and other functional training programs have gained a significant following in recent years. The popularity of competing in these endeavors has evolved into the formation of numerous competitions both nationally and internationally. The Sport of Fitness is one of society's most rapidly growing alternative sports. Training sessions for these programs often involve performing many high-rep lifting scenarios, including but not limited to, exercises using: barbells, dumbbells, kettle bells, roes, and bands. These exercises and activities place extreme wear on athletic and workout clothing because of the high number of reps. Wear may occur where the workout implements repeatedly come into contact with certain areas of the clothing. This can decrease the functional life of the garment and has the potential to expose the skin resulting in injury by way of abrasion. The present invention provides a garment to limit potential wear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a garment for use in athletic or exercising activities. The garment comprises a waistband, a reinforced back panel, the back panel secured to a rear portion of the waistband, a seat panel secured to the back panel, the seat panel defining a first back leg portion and a second back leg portion, a front panel secured to a front portion of the waistband, the front panel defining a first front leg portion and a second front leg portion, a first reinforced thigh panel, the first thigh panel secured to the waistband and to the first front leg portion of the front panel, a second reinforced thigh panel, the second thigh panel secured to the waistband and to the second front leg portion of the front panel, and a plurality of side panels, each side panel secured to the waistband and connecting the seat panel to one of the reinforced thigh panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a garment built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the garment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the garment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial view of fabric for a garment of the present invention showing the stitch position for the garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings in general and to FIG. 1 in particular, there is shown therein a preferred embodiment for a garment constructed in accordance with the present invention. The garment, designated by reference number 10, represents a pair of athletic or workout shorts that can be worn and are of such a length as to terminate at or about the knees. Alternatively, the garment may also be a pair of pants and of a length to reach the wearer's ankles.

The garment 10 comprises a waistband 12 for supporting the garment on the wearer's waist, and terminates in a pair of leg openings 14. The waistband 12 may have a clasp or tie, or may alternatively comprise an elastic material. The garment 10 further comprises a front panel 16 secured to a front portion of the waistband 12. The front panel 16 defines a first front leg portion 18 and a second front leg portion 20.

Continuing with FIG. 1, the garment 10 comprises a first reinforced thigh panel 22 and a second reinforced thigh panel 24. The thigh panels 22 and 24 are secured along a top edge to the waistband 12. The first thigh panel 22 is also secured to the first front leg portion 18 of the front panel 16. The second thigh panel 24 is also secured to the second front leg portion 20 of the front panel 16. The garment 10 further comprises a plurality of side panels 26 and 28. Side panel 26 is secured to the waistband 12 and along a length of the first thigh panel 22. Side panel 28 is secured to the waistband 12 and along a length of the second thigh panel 24.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a back view of the garment 10 is shown therein. As shown in FIG. 2 the garment 10 comprises a reinforced back panel 30. The back panel 30 is secured to the waistband 12 along a back portion of the waistband. Preferably, the back panel 30 will have a length to allow the back panel to span from the first side panel 26 to the second side panel 28, along the waistband 12. A seat panel 32 is secured to the back panel 30. The seat panel 32 also defines a first back leg portion 33 and a second back leg portion 34. As shown in FIG. 3, the second leg portion 34 of the seat panel 32 is also connected to the second side panel 28. Similarly, the first leg portion 33 of the seat panel 32 will be connected to the first side panel 26.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the garment 10 may also comprise a back pocket 36 secured to the seat panel 32 proximate the back panel 30. A reinforced pocket flap 36 is positioned to cover a pocket opening.

As described above, the garment 10 comprises reinforced thigh panels 22 and 24, the reinforced back panel 30, and the reinforced pocket flap 38. With reference now to FIG. 4, shown therein is a partial view of fabric for use with the garment 10 of the present invention. The fabric of FIG. 4 comprises a fabric section 50 that is preferably a fabric resistant to abrasion. The abrasion resistant fabric section 50 may comprise an ultra suede, nylon rip-stop, duck canvas material, or other such similar fabrics known to one skilled in the art. Additionally, the adjacent fabric sections 52 preferably comprise a lightweight stretch material, such as a 4-way stretch material, as is commonly used in athletic wear to allow for unrestricted movement in exercises and stretching. Stitching and seam connections 54 are preferably an overlock, flat lock, or similar durable seam type to bind different fabric types and that will withstand abrasions and lay flat for comfort.

One skilled in the art will appreciate the use of the abrasion resistant fabric along the thigh sections and the back panel to prevent excessive wear during aforementioned CrossFit or other similar athletic activities. The garment 10 of the present invention deploys the abrasion resistant fabric sections in areas having extensive contact with barbells or dumbbells. Thus, the thigh panels 22 and 24, and the back panel 30 and pocket flap 38, represent areas that are exposed to excessive wear.

Various modifications can be made in the construction and design of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, while the principal preferred construction a of the invention have been explained in what is now considered to represent its best embodiments, which have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A garment for use in athletic or exercising activity, the garment comprising: a waistband; a reinforced back panel, the back panel secured to a rear portion of the waistband; a seat panel secured to the back panel, the seat panel defining a first back leg portion and a second back leg portion; a front panel secured to a front portion of the waistband, the front panel defining a first front leg portion and a second front leg portion; a first reinforced thigh panel, the first thigh panel secured to the waistband and to the first front leg portion of the front panel; a second reinforced thigh panel, the second thigh panel secured to the waistband and to the second front leg portion of the front panel; and a plurality of side panels, each side panel secured to the waistband and connecting the seat panel to one of the reinforced thigh panels.
 2. The garment of claim 1 wherein the seat panel and the plurality of side panels comprise a lightweight stretch material.
 3. The garment of claim 1 further comprising: a back pocket secured to the seat panel proximate the back panel; and a pocket flap positioned to cover a pocket opening, the pocket flap comprising an abrasion resistant fabric.
 4. The garment of claim 1 wherein the reinforced back panel comprises an abrasion resistant fabric.
 5. The garment of claim 4 wherein the abrasion resistant fabric comprises an ultra suede material.
 6. The garment of claim 1 wherein the reinforced thigh panels comprise an abrasion resistant fabric.
 7. The garment of claim 6 wherein the abrasion resistant fabric comprises a nylon rip-stop fabric. 